Crowne Plaza Limassol leads Cyprus's fight against record food waste

Crowne Plaza Limassol is stepping up efforts to cut food waste and shrink its environmental footprint. The hotel recently hosted an event on 21 April 2026 to tackle food waste in Cyprus, particularly within the Ho.Re.Ca (hotels, restaurants, and catering) sector. The initiative is part of a wider EU-funded project aimed at driving change in the industry. The event formed part of the Crowne Plaza Limassol WASD-AI - fuTOURiSME project, backed by European Union funding. Speakers highlighted the urgency of reducing food waste, with Cyprus producing 286kg per person annually—the highest rate in the EU, according to Eurostat’s 2023 data. Chrisemily Psilogeni, Director General of ACTE, stressed that managing food waste is not just an environmental issue but also a key economic and operational concern for Cyprus’s tourism sector.

To combat waste, the hotel has already adopted the *WASD-AI* app, an AI-powered tool that tracks, weighs, and reports food waste in professional kitchens. The system helps staff identify patterns and reduce unnecessary disposal. Now, the hotel is going further by installing a composter to minimise the environmental impact of any remaining waste. The push comes as Cyprus prepares to roll out the *Pay As You Throw* scheme, which will apply to businesses from September 2026 and to households by 2027. The country must also meet the EU’s target of cutting food waste by 30% by 2030. Crowne Plaza Limassol’s pilot project serves as a model for how hotels can lead the way with innovative solutions.

The hotel’s initiative demonstrates how technology and policy can work together to reduce waste. With new regulations on the horizon and EU targets looming, the project offers a practical example for others in the industry. The focus now shifts to scaling up these efforts across Cyprus’s hospitality sector.